{"id":101493,"date":"2025-09-05T07:57:37","date_gmt":"2025-09-05T07:57:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.artikels.afriforum.co.za\/?p=101493"},"modified":"2025-09-05T07:57:44","modified_gmt":"2025-09-05T07:57:44","slug":"afriforum-demands-a-national-investigation-into-police-involvement-in-stock-theft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.artikels.afriforum.co.za\/en\/afriforum-demands-a-national-investigation-into-police-involvement-in-stock-theft\/","title":{"rendered":"AfriForum demands a national investigation into police involvement in stock theft"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/www.artikels.afriforum.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Jacques-Broodryk_5-Sept-2025_ENG-1.mp3\"><\/audio><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Soundbite: Jacques Broodryk (English)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/www.artikels.afriforum.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Jacques-Broodruk_5-Sept-2025_AFR-1.mp3\"><\/audio><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Soundbite: Jacques Broodryk (Afrikaans)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The civil rights organisation AfriForum is demanding a formal national investigation into police involvement in stock theft. This request follows the arrest of a member of the Standerton stock theft unit, Constable Siyabonga Cindi, last week. Cindi, who appeared in court in Amersfoort on Tuesday (2 September), is facing charges of the theft of approximately R450 000 worth of cattle in the Standerton, Greylingstad and Perdekop areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">AfriForum emphasises that a national investigation into the involvement of members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) in stock theft is essential, as Cindi\u2019s case is not unique. In March this year, Mokete Jacob Mokoena, Station Commissioner of the Tweeling police station, was found guilty of stock theft, and in July 2021, five members of the SAPS were arrested in the Free State on charges of stock theft, perjury and defeating the ends of justice. In addition, Free State farmers submitted a report to the Hawks in 2019 with comprehensive information regarding an organised stock theft syndicate in the Free State. The report contained, among other things, names of suspects as well as evidence of police involvement in this network. The civil rights organisation emphasises that these ongoing cases of police involvement in livestock theft require an investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to Jacques Broodryk, Chief Spokesperson for Community Safety at AfriForum, the involvement of the so-called protectors of the agricultural community in stock theft is extremely worrying. \u201cDespite years of information, evidence and convictions pointing to police involvement in stock theft, it appears that not much is being done to eradicate the problem. The police\u2019s involvement in stock theft undermines the agricultural community\u2019s efforts to combat this multi-million-rand crime. It also puts human lives at risk and threatens farmers\u2019 financial survival,\u201d he explains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cCorrupt police officers \u2013 and especially corrupt officers in stock theft units \u2013 who are involved in stock theft trample on the good work of honest and dedicated members and further undermine the meagre trust the public still has in the police. We can no longer allow the very people and units that were put in place to protect farmers and their livestock to continue their crimes unabated. Criminality in the police must be rooted out, and a transparent investigation is therefore now essential,\u201d concludes Broodryk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hennie Bekker, AfriForum\u2019s District Coordinator for the Highveld, emphasises, meanwhile, that Cindi abused his position of power as a police officer to enrich himself and was in a position to cover up his crimes through his involvement in the stock theft unit. \u201cHowever, it is positive to know that justice also catches up with those who have the resources and capabilities to try to evade justice. We will monitor Cindi\u2019s case from now on to ensure that justice is done,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Since June this year, AfriForum has made a training programme available to the organisation\u2019s 170 neighbourhood and farm guards to empower these civilian crime-fighting teams with specialist knowledge for combating stock theft. These and other courses \u2013 including a specialised tracking course \u2013 that AfriForum offers free of charge to the organisation\u2019s neighbourhood and farm guard members, empower members with the necessary knowledge and skills to tackle the pressing crime problems that plague rural communities. This training has already borne fruit and AfriForum\u2019s neighbourhood and farm guards have already been actively involved in several successful operations to combat stock theft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cindi\u2019s bail application has been postponed until 29 September. He remains in custody in the meantime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bekker invites the public to participate in AfriForum\u2019s efforts to oppose the bail of Cindi and other suspected stock thieves. Sign AfriForum\u2019s petition <a href=\"https:\/\/www.artikels.afriforum.co.za\/en\/106391\/\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The civil rights organisation AfriForum is demanding a formal national investigation into police involvement in stock theft. 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